How to Complete IELTS Reading in Less than an Hour?

IELTS Reading: Mastering the Art of Time Management and Preparation

The IELTS Reading section can be daunting, especially as you need to:

• Read three long texts (five in the General Training exam)
• Answer 40 diverse questions
• Accurately transfer your answers to the answer sheet

All of this must be done within 60 minutes, making time management a critical skill. Here are detailed tips to help you ace the IELTS Reading test:

Tips to Prepare for the IELTS Reading Test

1. Understand the Test Format

The reading passages in both IELTS General and Academic tests are drawn from various sources, including books, journals, newspapers, handbooks, and advertisements. Familiarize yourself with these formats before test day to avoid surprises and improve your reading efficiency.

2. Get Acquainted with Different Question Types

Knowing the types of questions you might encounter and how to approach them is essential. The IELTS Reading test includes 14 types of questions:

• Multiple-choice questions
• Matching information
• Matching headings
• Sentence completion
• Summary completion
• Note, table, or flow-chart completion
• Diagram label completion
• Short-answer questions
• Identify a writer’s view or claims
• Identifying information
• Matching features
• Matching sentence endings
• True/False/Not Given questions

Practice each question type thoroughly, paying attention to instructions and word count. Read the questions first to understand what is required, then scan the passages for answers. If a question seems too difficult, move on and return to it later to optimize your time.

3. Use Skimming and Scanning Techniques

Skimming involves quickly reading to get the gist of the text, while scanning focuses on locating specific details without reading every word. Start by reading the questions to identify key details, then skim and scan the passage to find the relevant information. Dive deeper into sections only when needed for clarity.

4. Leverage Context Clues

Context clues are hints within the text that help you understand unfamiliar words. By analyzing surrounding words and phrases, you can grasp the meaning of challenging vocabulary and locate answers more effectively.

5. Manage Your Time Wisely

Allocate your 60 minutes strategically. For the IELTS Academic test, spend about 20 minutes on each passage. For the General Training test, dedicate more time to the third passage, as it is longer and more complex.

6. Enhance Your Vocabulary

Many questions in the IELTS Reading section require knowledge of synonyms and paraphrasing. Building a robust vocabulary will not only improve your comprehension but also help you locate answers faster.

7. Transfer Answers Simultaneously

Unlike the listening section, the IELTS Reading section does not provide extra time to transfer answers. Write your answers on the question paper as you solve each passage, then immediately transfer them to the answer sheet to save time and reduce last-minute errors.

8. Practice Regularly

Develop a habit of reading lengthy texts and solving practice papers from reliable sources. This will enhance your reading speed, accuracy, and familiarity with difficult words and phrases.

Your reading strategy and approach to the passage determine your overall performance. Proper planning is key to success in the IELTS Reading section.